By Gloria Drealomalicha
There are moments in a nation’s history that force its people to look back and ask difficult questions. Today is one of those moments.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with waves of kidnappings, insecurity, and the heartbreaking abduction of schoolchildren in different parts of the country, many citizens are beginning to reflect on how they treated former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, during one of the country’s darkest periods.
When the Chibok girls were abducted in 2014, Patience Jonathan did not hide her emotions. She cried. She spoke passionately. She appeared visibly shaken by the pain of parents whose daughters had vanished into the hands of terrorists.
At the time, many Nigerians mocked her. Social media users turned her emotional outbursts into jokes, memes, and even catchphrases. Her tears became entertainment. Her concern became comedy.
Today, many are asking whether we were too harsh.
Whether one agreed with her politics or not, there was little doubt that Patience Jonathan wore her emotions openly. She reacted like a mother disturbed by the suffering of other mothers. She showed anger, frustration, and grief in public.
Fast forward to today, and a growing number of Nigerians say they are struggling to see that same emotional connection from the nation’s current leadership as communities mourn fresh tragedies.
Critics have accused the government of appearing detached from the daily fears of ordinary citizens. Some Nigerians have expressed disappointment that they have not seen stronger public expressions of empathy from First Lady Remi Tinubu during several national tragedies that have left families devastated.
As a mother and the nation’s First Lady, many citizens expected a louder voice of comfort, advocacy, and visible solidarity with victims. Whether fair or unfair, that perception continues to grow among sections of the public who feel abandoned in moments of national grief.
The contrast has led many to revisit the legacy of Patience Jonathan with fresh eyes.
Perhaps we did not appreciate her humanity enough.
Perhaps we focused too much on her grammar and mannerisms while overlooking the fact that she was visibly heartbroken by the suffering around her.
Perhaps we laughed when we should have listened.
And perhaps Nigeria owes her an apology.
An apology for reducing her tears to jokes.
An apology for turning her pain into entertainment.
An apology for using her emotional reactions as material for ridicule rather than recognising them as the cries of a woman who appeared genuinely affected by a national tragedy.
History has a way of changing perspectives.
What was once mocked is now remembered by some as compassion.
What was once ridiculed is now viewed by many as evidence of empathy.
As Nigerians continue to search for leaders who not only govern but also genuinely connect with the pain of the people, the memory of Patience Jonathan’s emotional response during the Chibok crisis has returned to public conversation.
And for many, the message is simple:
Madam Patience Jonathan, we may not have agreed with everything you did, but perhaps we were wrong to mock your tears.
For that, many Nigerians would say: we are sorry.
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